| Code: | Hurling |
| Sport: | Hurling |
| Damien Reale | |
| Irish: | Damien Ó Roghail |
| Fullname: | Damien Reale |
| Birth Date: | 17 May 1981 |
| Feet: | 5 |
| Inches: | 9 |
| Occupation: | Health and safety officer |
| County: | Limerick |
| Province: | Munster |
| Club: | Hospital-Herbertstown |
| Clcounty: | 0 |
| Counties: | Limerick |
| Icposition: | Left corner-back |
| Icyears: | 2001-2011 |
| Icapps(Points): | 37 (0-2) |
| Icprovince: | 0 |
| Icallireland: | 0 |
| Allstars: | 0 |
| Nhl: | 0 |
| Icupdate: | 18:04, 4 November 2012 |
| Birth Place: | Hospital, County Limerick, Ireland |
Damien Reale (born 17 May 1981) is an Irish hurler who played as a left corner-back for the Limerick senior team.
Reale made his first appearance for the team during the 2001 National League and immediately became a regular member of the starting fifteen. A three-time All-Ireland medalist in the under-21 grade, he enjoyed little success as a member of the county senior team. Reale ended up an All-Ireland runner-up on one occasion.
At club level Reale is a county intermediate championship medalist with Hospital-Herbertstown.
Reale plays is club hurling with Hospital-Herbertstown and has enjoyed much success in a lengthy career.
In 2000 he was just out of the minor grade when he won a county intermediate hurling championship medal.
A decade later Reale won a second county intermediate championship medal, as Hospital-Herbertstown triumphed once again.
Reale first came to prominence on the inter-county scene as a member of the Limerick under-21 hurling team in 2000. After a 1-13 apiece draw with Cork in the provincial decider, Limerick went on to win the replay following a stunning 4-18 to 1-6 victory.[1] It was Reale's first Munster medal. Limerick subsequently defeated Galway by 1-13 to 0-13 in the All-Ireland decider, giving Reale an All-Ireland Under-21 Hurling Championship medal.
In 2001 Reale added a second Munster under-21 medal to his collection as Limerick retained their provincial title following a 3-14 to 2-16 defeat of Tipperary. Limerick later went on to defeat Wexford by just a single point to retain their All-Ireland title.[2] It was Reale's second All-Ireland medal.
Limerick's great run of success continued in 2002. That year Limerick retained the provincial title for the third successive year with Reale winning a third Munster medal following a 1-20 to 2-14 defeat of Tipperary. A subsequent 3-17 to 0-8 trouncing of Galway gave Reae a third successive All-Ireland medal.[3]
By this stage Reale was a key member of the Limerick senior hurling team. He made his debut in a National Hurling League game against Antrim in 2001 and was later included at corner-back for the championship campaign. Reale lined out in his first Munster final at senior level that year. Tipperary were the opponents on that occasion, however, Limerick faced a narrow 2-16 to 1-17 defeat.[4]
Limerick hurling went on to decline following this defeat and faced a number of years of early championship exits.
In 2006 Reale claimed his first silverware at senior level with Limerick. A 1-19 to 3-10 defeat of the Waterford Institute of Technology secured the Waterford Crystal Cup for Reale's side.[5]
Reale was appointed captain of the Limerick senior hurling team in 2007. That year he lined out in a second Munster final, this time with Waterford providing the opposition. A 3-17 to 1-14 defeat was Limerick's lot on that occasion.[6] Limerick later gained their revenge on Waterford in the All-Ireland semi-final, thus gaining qualification to a first All-Ireland decider in eleven years for the Treaty men. Kilkenny provided the opposition and got off to a flying start with Eddie Brennan and Henry Shefflin combining to score two goals within the first ten minutes. Limerick were eventually defeated on a 2–19 to 1–15 score line.[7]
Limerick failed to build on their reasonably successful 2007 season and went into decline once again.
In November 2009 Reale announced his retirement from inter-county hurling in protest over changes made in the Limerick hurling panel by team manager Justin McCarthy.[8] Following McCarthy's resignation as manager in 2010, Reale returned to the hurling panel.
In 2011 Reale won a National League (Division 2) medal that year following a 4-12 to 2-13 defeat of near neighbours Clare.[9]
Following the completion of the championship in 2011, Reale announced his retirement from inter-county hurling.[10]
Reale has also lined out with Munster in the Railway Cup inter-provincial competition. He captured a winners medal in this competition in 2001 as Munster defeated Leinster.